Wrench



I. T.. CAMPBELL.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5. I919.

Patentd July 15, 1919.

awvanloz at n JESSE THOS. CAMPBELL, F ELBRILDG-E, TENNESSEE.

WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patent-ted July 15, 19-19.

Application'filed February 5, 1919. Serial No. 275,140.

of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Wrench, of which the following is a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a wrench, and one object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby the movable jaw may be held in adjusted positions with respect to the fixed aw.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel spring means for retracting the movable jaw and for swinging outwardly the grips or levers which serve to hold the movablejaw retracted.

It is within the province of'the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that. type to which the invention appertains.

Withthe above and other objects in view,

which willappean as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combina- "tion and arrangement ofpa'rts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that, within the scope of what is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the invention shown can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

" In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows in side elevation, a wrench constructed in accordance with the inven tion (Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section wherein parts. appear inelevation; Fig. 3 is an elevation wherein the wrench is viewed at right .angles tothe showing of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a perspectiveshowing a portion ofthe handle and parts wherewith the latch cooperates.

In carrying outthe invention there is provided a handle, denoted generally by the numeral 1, the handle including a fixed jaw 2, abutt. 3 and sideplates4 connecting the fixed jaw with the butt, these parts preferably being formed integrally. Recesses 5 are fashioned in the edges of the side plates 4, the recesses 5 defining reduced portions 6 in .the side plates, the reduced portions being connected lmmediately with the butt 3. In the side plates 4, elongated slots 24 are fashioned. Notches 23 are formed in the reduced portions 6 of the side plates 4 at one a 11 mounted to slide in the guide way 7, the

head merging into a reduced stem 12-slidable longitudinally between the side plates 4 and ofthe same width as theredu'ced' portions 6 of the side plates. On the edges of the stem 12, racks 22 are formed. There is alongitudinal opening "14 in the butt'3 betweenthe parts 6 of the side plates-4, and this opening communicates with a transverse opening 15 inthe butt, there being slots 16in the outer edges of the butt, the slot communicating with the opening 15. Disregarding for the moment, the slots 16 and the opening '15, it will be noted that one end of a retractile' spring 17 extendsintothe opening 14 and is held by a securing element" 18 mounted in the butt 3 and 'extendedacross theopening 15. The other end of the springl7 is attached at 40 to the endof'the stem 12 of the movable jaw 9. The stem 12 carries a pin or operating member, the ends of "which move in the slots 24 of the side plates 4, the pin being terminally provided with heads 26 located exteriorly of the side plates 4 and extending beyond the longitudinal edges of j the slots 24.

Levers 19 extend longitudinally of the wrench and operatebetween the side plates 4, the levers being united by means of'pivot elements 20 with the side plates, relatively near to the fixed aw 2, the stem 12 being located between the levers. The levers include broadened grips21 movablein the recesses 5, the grips being supplied with projections 27 adapted to cooperate with the racks 22. At their free ends, the grips 21 are supplied with reducedtfingers 28 movable in the slots 16 of the butt 3 and adapted to engage the ends of a compression spring 29 located in the opening 15 of the butt 3. At this point it maybe observed thatthe securing element 18 which retains one end of the spring 17 engages, as well, the intermediate portion of the spring 29, the securing element constituting, therefore, a retainer for both springs. The ends of a bail-shaped latch 30 are pivoted at 31 to the butt 3. The arms of the latch 30 extend diagonally across the parts 6 on the plates 4, and the transverse end piece 100 of the latch is adapted to move into the notches 23 when the latch is swung on its pivotal mounting 31, to engage, at the will of an operator, with one of the racks 22 on the shank 12, thereby to hold the shank 10 and the jaw 9 against the action of the spring 17, even though the grips 21 may not have been swung toward each other to cause the projections 27 to engage with the racks 22.

Let it be supposed that the latch 30 is out of engagement with the notch 23 and the particular rack 22 wherewith the latch is adapted to cooperate. The spring 29, coacting with the reduced fingers 28, swings the levers 19 outwardly on their pivot mountings 32, so that the projections 27 on the grips 21 do not engage with the racks 22 on the stem 12 of the movable jaw 9. The movable jaw now is responsive to the action of the spring 17 and that spring tends to draw the movable jaw 9 toward the fixed jaw 2. The thumb of the operator may be placed on one of the heads 26, the pin 25 moving in the slot 24 and advancing the stem 12, thereby to regulate the space between the movable jaw 9 and the fixed jaw 2, the spring 17 being put under tension. When the grips 21 are seized in the hand of the operator, the levers 19 are swung inwardly on their pivotal mountings 20, whereupon the projections 27 cooperating with the racks 22, will hold the stem 12 against longitudinal sliding movement and maintain the movable aw 9 in adjusted relation to the fixed jaw 2. As soon as the hold on the grips 21 is released, the spring 29 will react on the fingers 28 and swing the levers 19 outwardly so that the projections 27 no longer engage the racks 22. Then the spring 17 will retract the movable jaw 9 toward the fixed aw 2.

The foregoing operation presupposes that the wrench is to be operated by hand. On a heavy job, it may be desirable to operate the wrench by means of the foot of the mechanic. Then, perhaps, neither of the levers 19 will be swung inward1y,-particularly if the foot of the operator happens to be placed against the butt 3, If the levers 19, are not swung inwardly, the projections 27 will not cooperate with the racks 22 to hold the jaw 9 in fixed relation with respect to the jaw 2, and under such circumstances, the bail-shaped latch 30exercises its function, the free end portion of the latch being swung to the right ('Fig. 2) until the transverse end piece 100 of the latch enters the notches 23 in the parts 6 of the side plate and cooperates with one of the racks 22.. From the foregoing will be observed that the operator has within his command, a means for holding the jaw 9 in proper rela-- tion to the jaw 2, even though the levers- 19 may not have been swung. toward eacln other, to cause the projections 27 to cooperate with the racks 22.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. A wrench comprising a handle having a fixed jaw; a movable jaw cooperating with the fixed jaw and including a stem slidable in the handle; and levers disposed on opposite sides of the stem, the levers being pivoted at their outer ends to the handle and having their inner ends free for swinging movement toward and away from the stem, the levers being exposed to be gripped simultaneously, the levers and the shank having interengaging elements, those of said elements which are on the levers being located between the ends of the levers.

2. A wrench comprising a handle having a fixed jaw; a movable jaw cooperating with the fixed jaw and including a stem slidable in the handle; levers disposed on opposite sides of the stem, the levers being pivoted to the handle and bein exposed to be gripped simultaneously, the levers and the stem having interengaging elements; and a latch mounted movably on the handle and adapted to cooperate at the will of an operator with one of said elements on the stem. 3. A wrench comprising a handle having a fixed jaw; a movable jaw cooperating with the fixed jaw and including a stem. slidable in the handle; levers disposed on opposite sides of the stem, the levers being pivoted to the handle and being exposed to be gripped simultaneously, the levers and the stem having interengaging elements; and spring means for swinging the levers outwardly, to disengage said elements.

4. A wrench comprising a handle having a fixed jaw; a movable jaw cooperating with the fixed jaw and including a stem slidable in the handle; levers disposed on opposite sides of the stem, the levers being pivoted to the handle and being exposed to be gripped simultaneously, the levers and the stem having interengaging elements; spring means assembled with the stem and with the handle for retracting the stem and the movable jaw; and a latch movably mounted on the handle, and under the control of an operator, the latch operating with one of said elements on the stem.

5. A wrench comprising a handle having a fixed jaw and including a butt having a slot; a movable jaw cooperating with the fixed jaw and including a stem slidable in the handle; a lever pivoted to the handle, the lever and the stem having inter'engaging elements, one end of the lever being to each other; a compression spring in one opening; a retractile spring in the other opening; a securing element in the butt and engaging the inner ends of both springs; a movable jaw cooperating with the fixed jaw and including a stem slidable in the handle, the stem being connected With the retractile spring; and a lever pivoted to the handle,

the lever and the stem having interengaging elements, and one end of the lever being 10 engaged by the compression spring.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto atfixed my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

JESSE THOS. CAMPBELL. Witnesses:

J. T. BANKS, H. T. KING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

